Without waiting for an answer, Josh walked toward the living room.
She dropped her head into her hands. She didn’t fear Rafe but Josh’s words mirrored Xander’s warning. Their cultures were different. The episode in the yard proved it. While beloved human made her feel special, it was ownership, no matter how they spun it.
Then there was the way the other shifters had treated Mira. They wouldn’t even allow Josh to talk to her. Really, what harm would it have done? It wasn’t as if they were alone.
And what would happen if Rafe caught Jazz talking to Josh? Or if Rafe discovered they’d been lovers? Would she no longer be allowed to associate with Josh? To talk to any man unless Rafe approved it the way Devin did for Mira? If that was the case, she wasn’t sure being Rafe’s anything was a good idea.
Chapter 24
Rafe ran the perimeter of Jasmine’s property. Twice he’d had to lay low while hikers trampled through the woods. It posed a risk to Rafe and his family, but what concerned him more was the danger to any unfortunate human who might stumble over Jon. History proved he had no problems with murdering innocents. Rafe doubted time had changed that.
He shifted into his human form, then pulled his clothes out from under a bush where he’d stashed them. Once dressed, he jogged the last few feet to the open yard.
Kade met him halfway. “What did you find?”
“No scent markings, but I did find paw prints.”
“So he is masking his scent completely.” Kade cursed. “Where did he get his hands on that drug?”
“I’d like to know too, but we have other concerns.”
“Yeah. Finding him before he goes after Jasmine or her kids.”
Rafe glanced in the direction the hikers had gone. “True, but they’re not the only innocents we need to worry about. Humans use these woods for hiking.”
“And we both know Jon has no problem with murder.” Kade rolled his shoulders. “We’ll get him. He won’t get away this time.”
“You’re right about that.” Rafe just hoped they did so before Jon killed any of the humans in Jasmine’s town.
Rafe pivoted and made his way to the house. He found Jasmine in the kitchen talking to Mira. They had their heads bent close and were giggling over something. Jasmine turned with a smile on her face, but the grin drooped before she forced it back in place. The bitter trace of fear tainting her scent exposed the reason behind her fake smile. He had a long way to go in earning her trust which meant he had a long way to go before he even brought up mating him.
He leaned over the counter separating them and ran a hand down her arm. “Hey, beautiful. I missed you.”
“Oh Jazz, it must be love. Rafe never used that tone on me when we were lovers.” At Jasmine’s widened eyes, Mira gasped and covered her mouth. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…I mean, we’re not…”
Rafe flicked his gaze to Mira. “Get out. Now.”
Mira hurried from the room.
Jasmine turned to the stove. She stirred a pot of chili with quick flicks of her wrist. “Any sign of Jon?”
She wasn’t going to ask about Mira? Rafe took in her stiff back and inhaled. Too many different emotions flavored her scent for him to judge her mood. He walked around the counter separating them, took her hand and carefully pulled back her fingers from the ladle. He turned the heat off on the stove, and dragged her unyielding body against his.
“This is not the kind of jealousy I like.”
“I’m not jealous.”
She lied. Her sharp tone, along with the anger darkening her eyes told him the truth.
He kissed from her shoulder to the spot below her ear. She shivered but pressed her lips together. No breathy sigh.
“Liar.” He laved her skin until she swallowed hard. A much better reaction. He nibbled along the length of her throat then soothed her with his tongue. “There’s no reason to be jealous of Mira. She’s a friend, always has been, even when she shared my bed.”
“Friend with benefits, huh?”
He’d heard of the human expression, but Mira never quite fit that role either. She had only ever come to him when she needed love and reassurance or when the loneliness had gotten to be too much. He’d never sought her out. He didn’t think the distinction would matter to Jasmine.
“In a way, but we haven’t been intimate in many years.” He turned Jasmine in his arms and ran a hand over her back. “Nor will we ever be again. I don’t want another lover. Only you.”
She rolled her eyes but not before he saw the warmth in them. His declaration had pleased her. “Compared to Mira, I’m plain, and you haven’t known me long enough for my personality to have anything to do with it.”
“You’re beautiful. Not plain.” He pressed his lips to hers to stop her denial. “And mine. Mira never captured my attention. You have.”
“Is that true?”
The soft brush of her lips sensitized his mouth. Before he could answer her, she curled her fingers around the back of his neck, holding him in place, and kissed him slowly. The soft stroking of her thumb over his skin skipped energy down his spine, arousing him quicker than he’d thought possible.
Her attention focused on him was welcome, but other needs surfaced the longer they kissed. Those involved Jasmine on her knees, taking him to the brink.
He swept his hands over her rounded butt cheeks, squeezing each one, but Jasmine caught his lower lip between her teeth. She gave it a sharp tug, then released him. “And whose bed will you be warming tonight? I didn’t invite
